Stories

Journey into Authentic Mexico in its "Magical Towns"

Story About Mexico
Journey into Authentic Mexico in its

Mexico is more than beaches. It’s also a country rich in folklore, traditions, culture, history, nature and cuisine. And some of Mexico’s towns have such a concentration of significance and authentic experiences for visitors, they’ve earned the label “Magical.”  As of 2023, 177 towns in Mexico have been designated “Magical Towns,” or “Pueblos Magicos” by the Mexican government. The program empowers local communities to celebrate and share their unique characteristics, and towns are provided a budget to help maintain the special traditions and experiences that make them so appealing. There are Magical Towns in each of the country’s 31 states, so no matter where in Mexico you are planning to visit, there should be a Magical Town within reach whether you're... more


Indoor Winter Chalets Let You Get Cozy at IHG Hotels & Resorts this Season

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Indoor Winter Chalets Let You Get Cozy at IHG Hotels & Resorts this Season

Winter chalet popups by celebrity tastemakers are making the coldest season warm and cheerful for travelers across North American hotels and resorts in the IHG family, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Vignette Collection and Hotel Indigo. Until the end of February 2024, every hotel and resort in IHG is transforming into a welcoming winter wonderland with larger-than-life lobby installations created by renowned tastemakers Corey Damen Jenkins and Grammy-award winning musician Maren Morris. Instead of hibernating for the rest of the season, these cozy-chic interiors, accompanied by a soundtrack designed to conjure up “feelings of warmth and gratitude,” along with chalet-inspired programming inspire you to get out of the house and celebrate winter.  WINTER CHALETS COME INDOORSReminiscent of a day... more


12 Ways Fairmont Hotels are Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas and More

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12 Ways Fairmont Hotels are Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas and More

Take a break from planning Christmas festivities and shopping and treat yourself to Christmas cheer, Fairmont-style. Get into the spirit of the season with a dozen merry programs at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts throughout North and Central America– from ugly sweaters to a Thirsty Elf, a Home Alone tribute in New York, and Holiday Hula in Hawaii.  In a nod to the 12 Days of Christmas, 12 of the family of hotels and resorts have devised their own unique ways to make the holiday bright for guests this season: Have Dinner Inside a Life-Sized Gingerbread House at Fairmont San FranciscoFor more than a century, Fairmont San Francisco has enchanted guests with joyful holiday festivities and exuberant seasonal ambience. Back this year is... more


Beach Vacation Tip: What You Need to Know About Reef-Safe Sunscreen

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Beach Vacation Tip: What You Need to Know About Reef-Safe Sunscreen

Most of us are pretty careful about sun exposure when we travel on beach vacations these days. It’s hats and sunscreen all the way to protect our skin from the sun’s rays. But how about protecting the ocean we love to visit from the chemicals in our sunscreens?  The rise of "reef-safe" or "reef-friendly" or “ocean-friendly” sunscreen claims has a lot of travelers puzzled about what sunscreen to pack that protects skin without harming the aquatic environment. The Origin of Reef-Safe SunscreensA few years ago, Hawaii passed legislation banning sunscreen products containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. This move by one of the most famous beach destinations was prompted by research suggesting that these chemicals could harm coral reefs. Oxybenzone, also known as benzophenone-3,... more


Four Seasons Opening A New Resort in Another Caribbean Destination

Story About Caribbean
Four Seasons Opening A New Resort in Another Caribbean Destination

The newest Four Seasons resort will change the face of one of the Caribbean’s most popular islands.  Famous for affordable, all-inclusive beach resort vacations, the Dominican Republic’s latest resort will put it on even the most discerning luxury traveler’s map.  The Four Seasons Resort and Residences Dominican Republic at Tropicalia is underway on 60 acres of pristine beachfront of Playa Esmeralda on the country’s northeastern Samana Bay. Scheduled to open in 2026, the 95-room resort will lead the way for a new era of sustainable tourism and luxury in the Dominican Republic. It’s being developed in partnership with the family who owns the property, which is currently a private estate. The new resort will maintain the estate’s diverse eco-system of white-sand beaches, crystal... more


And the Top Tourism Attraction in Europe This Year Is...

Story About Ireland
And the Top Tourism Attraction in Europe This Year Is...

Not the Eiffel Tower. Not Rome’s Colosseum. Or even Barcelona’s magnificent Sagrada Familia cathedral by Gaudi. The attraction voted Europe’s best in awards dubbed the “Tourism Oscars” also earned the title of Europe’s Leading Beer Tour Visitor Experience 2023.  Ireland’s Guinness Storehouse is one of the highlights of a visit to Dublin, and walks visitors through the history and the making of one of the world’s most beloved beer brands and Irish cultural icon. Who doesn’t have a pint of Guinness on St. Patrick’s Day? And who would miss having a pint of Ireland’s most famous beer at the source? The Guinness Storehouse is located in the heart of Dublin’s Liberties, the neighborhood famous for the city’s brewing and distilling heritage. Inside,... more


Black Friday Travel Deals that Let You Give the Gift of Travel this Holiday Season

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Black Friday Travel Deals that Let You Give the Gift of Travel this Holiday Season

Black Friday is one of the best times of the year to book travel – for more than one reason! Not only will you find some of the best deals of the year, but they allow you to give one of the most precious gifts to your loved ones during the festive season.  Break free from giving things that become worn out, obsolete, forgotten or worse – landfill! – and think about how the gift of travel will enhance your relationship with the person you travel with or give travel.No stores, no lineups, no parking chaos… giving the gift of travel makes checking family off your list easy. Step Away from Devices…Study after study shows that what we remember and cherish are... more


CERN in Switzerland Opens New Gateway for Visitors to Get Their Science On

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CERN in Switzerland Opens New Gateway for Visitors to Get Their Science On

If you thought CERN, the renowned particle physics research facility in Geneva, was just for Nobel laureates and PhD’s, think again. The facility has inaugurated Science Gateway, a new, visionary hub with free admission for anyone from 5 to 95 to get involved in the next generation of human understanding of the universe at what may be the world’s most famous science facility.  CERN’s Science Gateway is an architectural achievement as well as providing a new level of access to the high degree of high science at CERN beginning in the fall of 2023. Designed with tubes that appear to be suspended in space evoking the cutting-edge CERN particle accelerators, Science Gateway is both a real and a symbolic bridge between visitors... more


This All-Inclusive Resort is Expanding Included Dining: OFF-Resort Restaurants

Story About Caribbean
This All-Inclusive Resort is Expanding Included Dining: OFF-Resort Restaurants

It’s the best of both worlds. Part of the appeal of luxury, all-inclusive resorts is the array of dining options on the property where you can enjoy effortless, delightful dining you’ve already paid for.  But what about getting a taste of the local restaurant scene on the rest of the island? And how about supporting other local businesses? Sandals Resorts has come up with the perfect answer in its immersive, “Island Inclusive” dining program that now invites couples at two of its all-inclusive luxury resorts to savor local flavors around two islands.  The program debuted in 2022 with the opening of Sandals Royal Curacao. Now, it’s expanded to Nassau for select guests at Sandals Royal Bahamian, giving them access to some of Nassau’s... more


VIDEO: Dramatic Sailing Through One of the World’s Largest Fjords in the Arctic Aboard Seabourn Venture

Story About Greenland
VIDEO: Dramatic Sailing Through One of the World’s Largest Fjords in the Arctic Aboard Seabourn Venture

“The best morning of my life.” That was a cameraman’s reaction to filming in one of the hottest cruise destinations today. The Arctic’s icecaps, glaciers, icebergs and fjords are drawing intrepid cruise travelers who want to experience some of the most remote, pristine, – and epic – scenery in the world.  You may have already cruised to Alaska and experienced some of the wilderness along some of its Arctic and Pacific northwest coast. But that doesn’t even begin to touch the scale of Greenland’s fjords. They are some of the largest on the planet – and the least accessible or traveled. On one, unforgettable early morning during our expedition cruise on Seabourn Venture, our camera crew got the call: we’d be transiting through... more


Caribbean Lobster Festivals for Seafood Lovers' Travel Lists

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Caribbean Lobster Festivals for Seafood Lovers' Travel Lists

It’s shorthand for luxury cuisine, but lobster eaten fresh at the source can be also be casual, street food, family dining and fun! That’s the premise behind lobster festivals in Caribbean destinations where they have access to an abundance of what may be the most popular crustacean.  Unlike some festivals, lobster festivals are not limited to a single month or season of the year, as lobster seasons vary. So chances are you can find a lobster festival that lines up with your next holiday window: Marathon, Florida Keys, Seafood Festival: MarchMarathon, often dubbed the "Heart of the Florida Keys," boasts a unique blend of small-town charm and spectacular natural attractions. The Seven Mile Bridge, an architectural marvel, connects Marathon to the Lower Keys,... more


A New Nature Reserve and More Hotel News From Aruba

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A New Nature Reserve and More Hotel News From Aruba

Aruba’s hotel and resort scene is more alluring than ever. The Dutch island in the south Caribbean is known for its desert environment, perpetual tradewinds that shape its iconic divi divi trees, colorful, colonial town, and a famous beach that’s been named best in the world, where most resorts are found.  News from three resorts highlights new experiences to give travellers reasons to return to Aruba or visit for the first time. A New Nature Preserve by Bucuti & Tara Beach ResortAruba’s premiere adults-only boutique hotel on the shores of Eagle beach isn’t just celebrated for being one of the most romantic hotels in the world.   Image: Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort is headed by a celebrated... more


Digital Fasting: Why You Should Go Device-Free on Your Next Holiday

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Digital Fasting: Why You Should Go Device-Free on Your Next Holiday

Word this summer of the introduction of the world’s first phone-free tourist resort island in Finland highlighted a growing holiday trend: digital fasting.  You read that right. Wellness travel has offered vacationers opportunities to undertake juice and other fasts on retreat trips to benefit their physical health. Now, with growing awareness of the benefits of unplugging from our devices, we could be seeing more opportunities for digital fasting on our vacations. “We encourage visitors to put their phones away voluntarily and to focus their senses on nature rather than on their phones. This is a great initiative that could be implemented in other nature and recreational destinations, too,” Joel Heino, Manager, Outdoor Recreation and Visitor Management at Parks & Wildlife Finland, says. “People are... more


Christmas Markets, NYE, Ice World and Gala Balls: Why Visit Vienna in the Winter

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Christmas Markets, NYE, Ice World and Gala Balls: Why Visit Vienna in the Winter

Don’t wait til spring or summer to visit Austria’s capital. Some of its most unique experiences take place during the frosty months, where one-of-a-kind local events warm your heart and reveal a side of Vienna you can’t see any other time of the year.   Viennese Christmas Markets:Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas, is a magical time in Vienna, with the historic city center and shopping streets in their festive best. The city’s most beautiful squares, streets and parks are transformed into Christmas markets, each with its own distinct atmosphere. The largest, and considered one of the most beautiful in Europe, is the Wiener Christkindlmarkt (Viennese Christmas Market), combining romance and nostalgia. There’s a popular Herzerlbaum (heart tree) for you... more


These Resorts have been Named Top in the Caribbean for the 30th Time at the 30th World Travel Awards

Story About Caribbean
These Resorts have been Named Top in the Caribbean for the 30th Time at the 30th World Travel Awards

30 times in 30 years. That’s an incredible vote of confidence in the resort chain named “The Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand” for the 30th time at the 30th annual World Travel Awards. It wasn’t the only win for Sandals Resorts International, either. It scored 13 more prestigious awards.  Sandals Resorts International is the parent company of two luxury, all-inclusive resort chains: couples-only Sandals resorts, and family all-inclusive Beaches resorts. In addition to the company as a whole winning top honors, individual resorts also brought home the gold. The all-new Sandals Dunn’s River (pictured), which opened its doors in May of 2023, celebrated its first wins as the Leading Luxury All-Inclusive Resort and Caribbean's Leading New Resort. You need to experience Sandals’ newest Jamaican resort to... more


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